KUNA Center organizes training programs for new journalists

KUWAIT: The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Center for Media Development concluded on Thursday its 20th foundational training program for new journalists, which began on September 7. The program was delivered by a group of specialized lecturers and covered a wide range of key topics in journalism, including news editing, language skills, artificial intelligence applications and media photography.

The sessions addressed the fundamentals of writing and editing news, focusing on news types, characteristics, sources, and formats, as well as techniques for crafting effective press releases and headlines. Another component tackled “Linguistic Skills for Media Professionals,” highlighting grammar, summarization, editorial style and common writing pitfalls.

Participants were also introduced to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence applications in news creation, image production and content development. A module on photography and video emphasized the principles of lighting, camera angles and lens effects. Separately, the center also concluded a specialized training program on “News Writing” in English, with participants from KUNA, Qatar News Agency (QNA), and Kuwait’s Public Authority for Sports.

Some of the participants are pictured in the photo.

The course, led by Morteza Mollaei, professor of translation at the American University of Kuwait, explored news formulation in both local and international contexts, challenges in editing, ethical considerations in reporting, and techniques for writing specialized and general news.

Mollaei underlined the pivotal role of translation in media, noting that differences between Arabic and English require specialized training to ensure accuracy and professionalism. He said the course combined theoretical and practical approaches to maximize the benefit for participants. He added that such programs play a vital role in raising the standards of media professionals, particularly in drafting press releases and news stories in both Arabic and English, ultimately enhancing the clarity and professionalism of the media message.

Established in December 1995, the KUNA Center for Media Development is regarded as one of the region’s leading media training hubs, having conducted hundreds of programs to enhance professional competencies and strengthen media performance. — KUNA